The father and stepmother of a young girl found dead inside a central Bakersfield motel have been charged with murder.

Bakersfield police say the body of Genesis Mata, 8, showed signs of severe trauma when they discovered her Saturday night lying dead in the bathtub inside a room at La Quinta Inn on Riverside Drive.

Roy Mata, Jr., 31, and Graciela Bustamonte, 27, pleaded not guilty to murder, torture, and child cruelty charges Tuesday afternoon.

The couple is being held without bail and are expected to return to court next week.